Performance Measurement in the Social Housing Sector in England: the Case of Housing Associations

Ham, Young Jin (2009). Performance Measurement in the Social Housing Sector in England: the Case of Housing Associations. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Performance measurement was introduced and, many would argue, imposed on the social housing sector but now there is a growing interest in its intrinsic benefits to public organisations themselves, not only for internal regulation but also as a means of demonstrating social accountability. This thesis is about performance measurement in practice but it sets this within the framework of various theoretical approaches to the subject. The thesis proposes four research questions: why do housing associations measure performance; how is performance information used - by whom and for what purposes; what factors influence the development of performance measurement; and what has the performance measurement approach changed in the housing association sector? Through a discussion of the literature on performance measurement in the context of performance management and practical case studies, the thesis answers the four research questions. The central conclusion of the thesis is that performance measurement is a significant driver of the use of performance information in social housing management, in particular for decision-making on the delivery of housing services. The thesis reveals the hybrid nature of performance measurement, where managerial and social values currently prevail, in contrast to the traditional assumption of a dominant ‘political control’ role.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):